UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL.   ENGINEERING 

rERKELEY.  CALIFORNIA 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL  ENGINEERING 

BERKELEY.  CALIFORNIA 


The  Decay  of  Ties  in  Storage 

By  C.  J.  HUMPHREY,  Pathologist 

BUREAU  or  PLANT  INDUSTRY 

MADISON,  WISCONSIN 


Prepared  in  co-operation  with  the 
UNITED  STATES  FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY 
MADISON,  WISCONSIN 


Published  by  the 

AMERICAN  WOOD- PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION 
Mt.  Royal  Station,  Baltimore,  Md. 


H-s 

Engineering 
iabrary 


COPYRIGHTEDj    1920 
BY  THE 

AMERICAN    WOOD-PRESERVERS'    ASSOCIATION 


! 


THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE* 
By  C.  J.  Humphrey  / 

Pathologist,  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  in  Co-operation  witjijki?, 
Products  Laboratory,  Madison,  Wisconsin. 

The  present  paper  was  prepared  at  the  request  of  your  association 
for  an  article  dealing  in  as  simple  terms  as  possible  with  the  more 
common  fungi  which  attack  ties  in  storage.  As  the  fungi  concerned 
in  the  decay  of  such  timbers  vary  to  a  considerable  extent  with  the 
region  and  also  the  kinds  of  wood  under  consideration,  a  paper  cover- 
ing the  situation  in  any  comprehensive  manner  would  necessarily  be 
quite  extensive,  and  would  involve  a  careful  study  over  the  entire  coun- 
try. For  this  reason  it  was  considered  advisable  by  the  writer  to  limit 
the  discussion  to  those  fungi  commonly  found  on  hardwood  and  pine 
ties  throughout  the  centralf  United  States. 

Several  tie  yards  at  Metropolis  and  Joppa,  111.,  were  selected  as 
representative  of  this  region.  Ties  are  concentrated  at  these  points  in 
large  numbers,  coming  in  by  rail  or  water  from  a  wide  tributary  area. 
Upon  arrival  these  ties  are  sorted  and  air  seasoned  and  the  obviously 
defective  ones  culled.  These  culls,  running  up  into  the  hundreds  of 
thousands,  offered  a  very  favorable  field  for  study,  as  a  large  propor- 
tion had  been  culled  for  decay,  much  of  which  had  developed  before 
the  ties  reached  the  yards. 

In  the  production  of  ties  it  is  customary  to  yard  them  first  locally 
near  the  point  of  cutting.  Since  many  are  rafted  they  are  preferably 
yarded  near  the  rivers,  from  which  they  can  be  reached  at  high  water. 
Storage  conditions  at  these  local  concentration  points  are  usually  very 
poor,  and  no  particular  care  is  taken  to  safeguard  the  stock  from  decay, 
hence  many  ties  have  to  be  rejected  at  these  points  by  the  buyers.  Many 
others,  however,  find  their  way  to  the  permanent  yards,  and  when  in- 
fected with  fungi  continue  to  deteriorate  until  fully  air  dried.  It  is 
only  within  comparatively  recent  years  that  the  producers  have  even 
considered  the  use  of  many  timber  species  known  to  be  very  susceptible 
to  rot.  At  the  present  time,  however,  almost  all  species  known  to  the 
local  flora  are  acceptable  if  they  otherwise  conform  to  specifications. 
This  has  led  to  serious  loss  from  decay,  much  of  which  is  preventable. 

In  order  to  present  the  broader  aspects  of  decay  control  I  will 
digress  at  this  point  to  indicate  the  fundamental  factors  involved  in 


*  Acknowledgments.  My  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  C.  L.  Shear.  Bureau  of 
Plant  Industry,  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  determination  of  the  species  of  Hypoxylon, 
Daldinia,  Hypocrea  and  Lasiosphaeria;  to  Dr.  E.  M.  Gilbert,  University  of  Wis- 
consin, for  identification  of  Exidia  glandulosa;  and  to  Jennie  M.  Pitman,  University 
of  Wisconsin,  for  the  coloring  of  the  plates  herein  included.  I  wish  also  to  express 
my  appreciation  to  A.  R.  Joyce  and  others  at  Metropolis,  111.,  for  their  many 
courtesies  and  assistance  which  made  the  study  possible. 

f  Since  the  paper  was  originally  prepared  I  have  received  request  for  another 
plate  covering  a  few  additional  fungi  most  likely  to  be  found  on  ties  in  the 
northern  United  States.  Plate  VIII  has  been  included  for  this  reason.  Many  of 
the  fungi  recorded  for  the  more  southern  region,  however,  will  likewise  be  found 
in  the  north. 


^46272 


4  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

,'thi-  ;deVu1.ripment  and   spread  of   wood-destroying   fungi,   to   which   we 
attribute  all  the  primary  decays  with  which  we  are  concerned. 

What  Are  Fungi? 

Fungi  are  plants,  just  as  much  as  trees,  shrubs  and  herbs.  They 
merely  differ  in  their  form,  lack  of  green  coloring  matter,  and  methods 
of  nutrition.  A  tree  gets  its  nutriment  from  the  soil  and  air  through 
its  root  system  and  leaves ;  the  fungus  derives  its  nutriment  from  the 
substrate  upon  which  it  grows,  namely,  wood  or  other  vegetable  matter. 

In  the  life  cycle  of  wood-inhabiting  fungi  we  recognize  two  essen- 
tial stages  in  development:  (1)  The  'mycelium  (vegetative  stage),  which 
consists  of  fine,  cotton-like  branched  threads  which  penetrate  the  wood 
and  may  also  develop  on  the  surface  if  the  surrounding  air  be  moist; 
(2)  the  fruiting  stage,  which  produces  spores  at  the  surface  of  the 
timber.  These  spores  may  be  found  directly  on  the  exposed  mycelium, 
as  in  the  case  of  "molds,"  but  more  often  they  are  produced  on  definite 
fruit-bodies  which  are  nothing  more  than  mycelium  compacted  into 
characteristic  shapes  representative  of  different  fungi. 

Many  fungi  are  wood  inhabiting,  but  these  may  not  all  necessarily 
be  wood  destroying.  For  practical  purposes  it  is,  therefore,  necessary 
to  discriminate  between  two  broad  groups,  namely,  molds  or  stains  and 
wood  destroyers. 

Mycelium 

The  mycelium  is  the  stage  which  penetrates  the  wood.  It  is  the 
absorbing  system  of  the  fungus  and  in  function  is  comparable  to  the 
root  system  of  ordinary  green  plants.  In  the  case  of  "molds"  and 
"blue  stains,"  it  mainly  enters  the  ducts  or  pith  rays  of  the  wood  where 
it  feeds  on  the  starches,  sugars  and  other  easily  digested  organic  com- 
pounds. In  the  case  of  these  fungi  it  may  also  pass  through  the  pits 
in  the  walls  of  the  wood  fibers,  but  rarely  bores  through  the  solid 
wood  substance.  For  this  reason  the  molds  and  blue  stain  do  not  affect 
the  strength  of  the  timber  to  any  appreciable  degree. 

The  mycelium  of  both  wood  destroyers  and  molds  is  in  many  cases 
colorless  and  rather  fine  when  growing  within  the  wood;  that  of  the 
blue  stain  is  brown  and  usually  coarse.  The  main  difference  between 
the  mycelium  of  wood  destroyers,  molds  and  blue  stain,  however,  is 
its  action  on  the  wood  fiber,  the  wood  destroyers  having  the  capacity 
to  attack  and  disintegrate  the  wood  substance  itself  while  the  molds 
and  blue  stain  act  only  on  the  starches,  sugars  and  other  organic  sub- 
stances stored  in  the  pith  rays  and  ducts. 

The  chemistry  of  wood  is  rather  complex,  but  the  main  constituents 
of  the  wood  substance  itself  are  cellulose  and  ligno-cellulose  (often 
termed  lignin),  and  any  fungi  which  have  the  ability  to  feed  on  these 
substances  are  necessarily  wood  destroying.  These  compounds,  as 
well  as  others  in  the  wood,  are  acted  on  by  specific  ferments  (enzymes) 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  5 

which  change  them  to  simpler  organic  substances  which  can  be  absorbed 
by  the  fungus  as  food  for  its  own  growth. 
Fruiting  Stage 

In  order  to  propagate  itself  successfully  every  fungus  must  have 
a  fruiting  or  spore-bearing  stage.  Spores  are  very  minute  bodies  which 
in  the  case  of  molds  are  borne  directly  on  the  surface  of  superficial 
mycelium,  and  in  the  case  of  the  blue  stain  fungi  also  in  minute,  black, 
flask-shaped  fruit-bodies  which  appear  as  stiff  bristles  on  the  surface 
of  the  wood.  The  wood-destroying  fungi,  however,  have  conspicuous 
fruit-bodies  whose  shape,  color  and  texture  are  quite  characteristic  for 
the  different  fungi.  The  spores  are  borne  on  or  within  these  definite 
fruit-bodies. 

Spores  are  entirely  comparable  in  function  to  seeds.  They  are 
microscopic  in  size,  extremely  light,  and  appear  in  mass  as  a  very  fine 
powder,  very  often  white,  but  the  color  may  vary  widely  for  the 
different  fungi.  Very  often  the  spores  from  a  single  fruit  body  of 
the  wood-destroying  fungi  will  run  up  into  the  billions,  most  of  them 
being  capable  under  the  right  conditions  of  germinating  to  produce  a 
new  plant.  With  such  an  abundance  of  spores  blowing  about  in  the 
air  and  settling  on  new  timber,  it  is  seen  that  the  chances  for  infection 
are  very  great,  providing  the  conditions  for  their  germination  are 
favorable.  The  most  important  factor  here  concerned  is  moisture, 
both  in  the  wood  and  in  the  atmosphere.  The  most  active  period  for 
the  casting  of  spores  from  the  fruit  bodies  is  during  moist  weather, 
which  in  turn  is  most  favorable  for  germination  and  subsequent  in- 
fection. 

Conditions  Necessary  for  the  Growth  of  Fungi 

The  conditions  necessary  for  the  growth  of  fungi  are:  (1)  The 
presence  of  an  adequate  food  supply;  (2)  sufficient  moisture;  (3)  at 
least  a  small  amount  of  air;  (4)  a  suitable  temperature. 

Food.  This  is  furnished  by  the  wood  tissues  and  the  more  easily 
these  tissues  are  attacked  the  more  readily  will  the  wood  disintegrate. 
The  sapwood  of  all  the  species  of  the  region  under  consideration  is 
non-resistant  to  fungus  attack.  The  heartwood  of  the  different  woods, 
however,  varies  widely  in  this  respect.  The  white  oaks  are  highly 
resistant,  as  is  also  good  red  gum,  while  such  species  as  beech,  red 
oaks,  medium  grade  yellow  pine,  hard  maple  and  birch  offer  less 
resistance,  and  hackberry,  elms,  tupelo  gum,  cotton-woods,  soft  maple 
and  low  grade  pines  are  easily  rotted. 

Moisture.  A  suitable  amount  of  moisture  is,  without  doubt,  the 
most  important  factor  in  decay.  The  different  fungi,  however,  appear 
to  vary  somewhat  as  to  their  water  requirements.  For  infection  and 
incipient  decay  a  comparatively  high  moisture  content  of  the  wood 
and  the  surrounding  air  is  highly  favorable  for  all.  After  infection 
has  once  taken  place,  however,  and  the  fungus  has  become  established 


6  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

in  the  wood,  the  rate  of  decay  may  vary  considerably  with  different 
organisms,  depending  on  the  amount  of  moisture  present.  For  in- 
stance, there  are  many  fungi  which  thrive  only  under  humid  forest 
conditions  and  will  not  develop  on  partially  seasoned  timber  in  storage, 
while  others  can  tolerate  a  considerable  amount  of  drying  and  still 
continue  to  decay  the  wood.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  most  of  the  fungi 
which  rot  structural  timbers  are  quite  resistant  to  drying  when  once 
established  in  the  wood. 

The  term  "dry  rot"  should  not  be  used  indiscriminately,  as  is 
rapidly  becoming  the  case  among  laymen.  While  the  writer  thinks 
the  designation  should  be  retained,  it  should  be  limited  in  its  scope 
so  as  to  apply  only  to  the  decay  produced  by  Merulius  lachrymans  and 
its  close  relatives,  which  are  mainly  of  economic  importance  in  con- 
nection with  the  decay  of  timbers  in  buildings.  Even  in  this  case  the 
term  is  more  or  less  of  a  misnomer,  as  these  organisms  always  start 
under  moist  conditions.  They  have  the  capacity,  however,  of  develop- 
ing porous  water-conducting  strands  which  may  spread  from  the 
moister  portions  of  a  building  to  dry  timbers,  whose  decay  is  furthered 
by  the  moisture  which  the  fungus  carries. 

Air.  A  certain  amount  of  air  in  the  wood  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  decay  to  take  place.  The  fungi  require  it  in  their  growth.  When 
wood  is  saturated  the  air  in  the  wood  cells  is  displaced  by  water  and 
fungus  growth  is  impossible. 

The  opinion  widely  prevalent  among  laymen  that  alternate  wetting 
and  drying  is  necessary  for  decay  has  developed  through  observation 
of  the  way  wood  decays  in  exposed  situations.  For  instance,  take  the 
case  of  an  infected  railway  tie  partly  embedded  in  soil.  During  a 
very  dry  season  there  may  not  be  sufficient  moisture  in  the  wood 
to  permit  decay,  and  the  fungus  will  remain  dormant.  On  the  advent 
of  rains,  if  only  sufficient  moisture  falls  to  put  the  tie  in  good  moisture 
condition,  it  begins  to  rot  rapidly  again  and  will  continue  to  do  so  as 
long  as  the  moisture  and  temperature  are  favorable.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  rainy  period  is  long  continued,  the  tie  may  become  saturated 
and  decay  will  be  retarded  again  until  the  stick  dries  out  sufficiently 
to  admit  the  necessary  amount  of  air.  Thus,  in  the  alternation  of 
wet  and  dry  conditions,  there  occurs  at  some  point  intermediate  between 
the  dry  and  wet  ranges  a  condition  at  which  decay  is  at  its  maximum. 
If  the  moisture  were  held  at  this  optimum  point  it  can  readily  be  seen 
that  the  stick  would  decay  much  more  quickly  than  under  the  alternat- 
ing conditions.  Therefore  it  is  only  under  fluctuating  climatic  condi- 
tions that  alternation  becomes  of  advantage. 

Temperature.  In  general,  the  fungi  under  consideration  grow  best 
between  75  degrees  and  90  degrees  F.  They  will  all  grow  at  much 
lower  temperatures,  but  much  more  slowly.  The  most  severe  winter 
conditions  do  not  kill  them.  They  merely  cease  growth  and  remain  in 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  7 

a  dormant  condition.  On  the  other  hand,  a  rise  of  temperature  of  but 
a  few  degrees  above  the  optimum  has  a  greater  influence  on  growth 
than  a  corresponding  reduction.  The  practical  purposes,  however,  we 
may  say  that  nature  so  regulates  temperature  conditions  that  for  the 
region  under  consideration  the  fungi  find  a  very  favorable  environment 
over  a  considerable  portion  of  the  year. 

Control  of  Decay  in  Stored  Ties 

With  the  foregoing  considerations  in  mind  relative  to  present 
commercial  practices  as  coupled  up  with  the  fundamental  conditions 
necessary  for  decay,  it  is  seen  that  relief  can  only  be  secured  by 
changing  commercial  practice  as  far  as  possible  so  as  to  eliminate 
infection  and  put  the  timber  in  a  moisture  condition  unfavorable  for 
subsequent  decay. 

Winter  Cutting  and  Barking.  The  advantages  in  winter  cutting 
lie  in  the  fact  that  at  this  season  both  temperature  and  humidity  are 
much  less  favorable  for  infection.  It  is  true  that  air  seasoning  will 
be  much  slower  at  this  season,  but  this  can  be  increased  by  removal 
of  the  bark,  which  is  also  of  advantage  in  controlling  insect  depreda- 
tions. Slower  seasoning  is  of  particular  value  from  a  pathological 
standpoint,  as  it  decreases  the  number  and  size  of  season  checks  which 
collect  and  retain  moisture  and  thus  offer  favorable  points  for  infection. 

Proper  Piling  in  Woods.  At  points  of  production  ties  should 
never  be  piled  directly  on  the  ground  or  allowed  to  lie  about  singly 
on  the  ground  for  more  than  a  few  days  at  most.  Forest  soil  is  full  of 
living  fungus,  and  being  moist,  infection  is  quickly  carried  over  to 
timber  in  contact  with  it.  In  piling  or  yarding  ties  they  should  be 
placed  on  foundations  well  off  the  ground  and  amply  ventilated  beneath, 
the  ties  being  spaced  so  as  to  allow  as  much  ventilation  as  possible 
without  undue  checking.  This  preliminary  seasoning  in  the  woods  is 
of  very  great  importance,  as  apparently  a  large  amount  of  subsequent 
decay  is  to  be  attributed  to  infection  in  the  woods. 

Transport  of  Ties.  With  partially  seasoned  ties  rail  transport 
would  appear  preferable  to  rafting  from  a  pathological  standpoint, 
but  perhaps  not  from  a  practical,  for  every  time  a  tie  is  wet  it  is  put 
in  a  good  condition  for  infection.  The  writer,  however,  does  not  wish 
to  lay  too  much  stress  upon  this  point,  as  proper  yarding  and  piling 
at  destination  will  normally  take  care  of  the  situation. 

Yarding  Ties  at  Destination.  Inasmuch  as  ties  may  be  stored  for 
sometimes  more  than  a  year  at  terminal  yards,  careful  attention  must 
be  given  to  piling  them,  particularly  when  they  are  rafted.  Since  many 
of  the  yards  are  on  comparatively  low  ground,  the  first  care  must  be 
given  to  drainage  so  that  all  rainfall  or  ground  water  may  be  im- 
mediately removed  by  seepage.  A  slag  or  cinder  covering  to  a  depth 
of  6  to  12  inches  makes  a  very  good  surface  which  keeps  the  weeds 
down  and  allows  rapid  run  off. 


8  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

The  next  attention  should  be  given  to  foundations.  The  usual 
practice  is  to  use  two  parallel  rows  of  cull  ties.  In  some  yards  ties 
of-  durable  woods  like  white  oak  or  chestnut  are  employed,  but  there  is 
a  tendency  to  use  almost  any  sort  of  rejects  or  even  pole  timbers- 
Very  often  on  soft  ground  these  low  foundations  are  pressed  into  the 
soil,  so  that  the  piles  rest  practically  on  the  ground.  The  use  of  non- 
durable timbers  with  a  large  percentage  of  sapwood  is,  likewise,  a 
highly  objectionable  feature.  If  it  is  necessary  to  use  such  material, 
the  pieces  should  be  given  a  pressure  treatment  with  creosote  or  zinc. 
For  permanent  yards  the  use  of  concrete,  preferably  in  the  form  of 
piers  carrying  treated  or  naturally  durable  stringers,  would  undoubtedly 
prove  an  economy  in  the  long  run.  Such  a  foundation  allows  ventila- 
tion from  the  sides  as  well  as  the  ends.  The  use  of  open,  well  ven- 
tilated, durable  foundations  cannot  be  emphasized  too  strongly,  as 
infection  may  otherwise  pass  readily  from  the  soil  through  the  founda- 
tion timbers  into  the  base  of  the  piles. 

The  piling  should  also  be  as  open  as  consistent  with  the  checking 
of  the  timbers  handled.  With  particularly  perishable  timbers  the  con- 
tact points  should  be  reduced  as  much  as  possible. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  yards  should  be  kept  absolutely  free 
of  vegetation  and  rotten  or  infected  wood.  Unless  the  yards  are  kept 
scrupulously  clean  of  decayed  wood,  which  can  be  of  no  possible  use 
except  for  fuel,  the  other  precautions  taken  will  be  in  large  part  nul- 
lified. In  handling  the  whole  situation  we  must  begin  at  the  source 
and  very  obviously  we  must  strike  first  at  infections.  The  production 
of  fruiting-bodies  bearing  the  innumerable  spores  must  be  kept  down. 
It  is  of  no  permanent  value  to  remove  and  destroy  these  fruiting-bodies 
and  leave  the  infected  stick,  for  new  crops  will  soon  form  again. 

The  fire  hazard  is  also  another  feature  to  be  seriously  considered, 
for  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  rotten  or  punky  wood  will  ignite 
very  readily  from  a  spark,  follow  into  the  sound  stick  and  smolder  for 
a  considerable  time  ready  to  break  out  into  flame  when  the  wood 
becomes  sufficiently  dry  and  is  fanned  by  a  good  breeze. 

What  Fungi  Shall  the  Inspector  Discriminate  Against? 

As  previously  indicated,  this  paper  discusses  mainly  the  more 
common  fungi  found  on  stored  ties  in  the  region  investigated.  Many 
of  these,  however,  will  be  found  over  the  entire  country.  In  preparing 
this  part  of  the  article,  many  thousand  cull  ties  of  various  kinds  of 
wood,  but  largely  the  more  perishable,  were  looked  over  at  Metropolis, 
111.,  and  representative  samples  bearing  identifiable  fruit-bodies  were 
cut  from  the  ends  and  shipped  to  the  Forest  Pathology  Laboratory 
at  Madison,  Wis.,  for  photographing  and  further  investigation  of  the 
extent  and  seriousness  of  the  associated  rot.  After  photographing  the 
end  of  the  tie  bearing  the  fungus,  a  3-inch  disc,  wherever  possible,  was 
cut  off  to  show  end  penetration  of  the  rot.  The  cut  surface  was 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  9 

smoothed  with  sandpaper  and  also  photographed,  and  this  section  was 
then  sawed  through  with  the  grain  beneath  the  sporophores  to  show 
the  longitudinal  configuration  of  the  infected  or  decayed  area.  About 
125  photographs  were  thus  made. 

Very  few  fungi  were  found  on  white  oaks,  these  being  limited 
to  four  common  species,  mainly  confined  to  the  sapwood.  At  least 
nine  species  were  found  on  red  oaks,  but  here  the  difference  in 
resistance  between  the  heart  and  sapwood  is  not  particularly  marked, 
although  the  sap  is  often  attacked  first.  Of  the  other  hardwoods,  red  or 
sweet  gum  which  was  low  grade  heart  or  high  in  sapwood  harbored  at 
least  four  species  of  wood  destroyers  and  was  especially  susceptible  to 
stains.  Beech  was  particularly  attacked  by  the  "button  fungi"  (Hypoxy- 
lon} and  the  "jelly  fungus"  (Exldia  glandulosa) .  Pines  were  mainly 
infected  with  three  fungi,  only  one  of  which,  the  brown  fungus,  Lensites 
sepiaria,  causes  serious  decay. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  inspector  the  fungi  here  reported  may  be 
thrown  into  three  classes,  of  which  only  the  first  group  need  give 
serious  concern. 

GROUP  I — FUNGI  WHICH   ATTACK  WOOD  SEVERELY 

Conifers   {Pines,  Hemlock,  Tamarack,  Etc.} 
Fomes  roseus.  Lenzites  sepiaria. 

Lentinus  lepideus.  Polystictus  abietinus. 

Hardwoods 

Daedalea  confragpsa.  Lenzites  trabea. 

Daldinia  concentrica.  Panus  stipticus. 

Exidia  glandulosa.  Pholiota  adiposa. 

Gloeoporus   conchoides.  Polystictus  pargamenus. 

Hydnum  erinaceum.  Polystictus  versicolor. 

Hypoxylon  cohaerens.  Stereum  fasciatum. 

Hypoxylon  coccineum.  Stereum  rameale. 

Lenzites  betulina.  Trametes  sepium. 

GROUP  II — FUNGI  WHICH  ATTACK  WOOD  SLOWLY  AND  NEED  NOT 
ORDINARILY  BE  DISCRIMINATED  AGAINST 

Hardwoods 

Hypocrea   citrina.  Schizophyllum   commune. 

GROUP  III — FUNGI  WHICH  NEED  NOT  BE  DISCRIMINATED  AGAINST 

Conifers 

Blue-stain   (Ceratostomella  spp.).        Schizophyllum  commune. 
Peniophora  gigantea. 

Hardwoods 

Blue-stain    (Ceratostomella  spp.). 
Olive-black  mold  (Lasiosphaeria  pezizula). 

In  order  to  identify  these  fungi  the  following  key,  based  on  the 
principal  and  more  conspicuous  characters,  will  be  found  useful.  Fol- 
lowing this  the  fungi  are  briefly  described  and  information  given  as 
to  their  prevalence,  distribution  and  species  of  timber  attacked. 


10  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

Key  to  the  Fungi  Described  in  the  Present  Paper 

A.  Fruiting-bodies  provided  \vith   gills  on  the   lower  surface. 

1.  Plants  of   the   mushroom   type   with   cap   and   central   stem: 

a.  Fruiting-bodies   fleshy-fibrous,    yellowish;    upper    surface    sticky    when 

moist  and  covered   with   brownish   scales;   on  hardwoods.     Pholiota 
adiposd. 

b.  Fruiting-bodies    tough,    fleshy-fibrous,    white;    upper    surface    of    cap 

covered    with   brown   scales.      Lentinus  lepideus. 

2.  Plants  with  only  a  short  lateral  stem: 

a.     Fruiting-bodies    small,    tough,    flexible,    grayish    to    tan   colored;    gills 
not   split   at    edge;    on   hardwoods.      Panus  stipticus. 

3.  Plants   without   a    stem : 

a.  Fruiting-bodies    small,    thin,    white,   tough    and   leathery    when   moist; 

gills  split   longitudinally   at   edge  and  halves   rolled   back;    on  hard- 
woods,   pines    and    other    conifers.     Schizophyllum    commune. 

b.  Fruiting-bodies   medium   large,    shelving,   corky,   flexible   when   moist; 

buff    to    clay    colored    or    light    brown;    often   concentrically    zoned 
above;    on    hardwoods.     Lenzites    betulina. 

c.  Fruiting-bodies    corky,    flexible,    medium    sized,    and    russet    to    dark 

brown  in  color;  upper  surface  usually  velvety  to  hairy;  on  conifers 
only.      Lcnzites  sepiaria. 

d.  Fruiting-bodies  as  above  but  near  to  cinnamon  brown;  upper  surface 

usually   not  velvety;   on   hardwoods.     Lenzitcs  trabea. 

B.  Fruiting-bodies   with   pores   on   the   lower   surface. 

1.  Plants    shelving,    densely    clustered,    thin,    tough    and    flexible    when    moist; 

upper  surface  concentrically  banded  with  shades  of  buff,  brown  or  blue; 
under  surface  white;  pores  small  and  shallow;  on  hardwoods.  Poly- 
stictus 1-crsicolor. 

2.  Plants   as   above   but   usually   more   loosely  clustered;    upper   surface   white, 

hairy;  under  surface  violet  in  young  specimens,  becoming  brown  in 
older;  pores  break  up  into  flattened  teeth  in  age;  on  conifers.  Poly- 
stictus  abietinus. 

3.  Plants    as    above;    upper    surface    velvety,    whitish    to    creamy    or    buff    in 

young  specimens,  becoming  concentrically  banded  and  gray  behind  in 
age,  and  losing  velvety  covering  in  part;  under  surface  violet  in  young 
specimens,  becoming  brown.  Plant  splits  radially  and  becomes  lacerate 
at  the  margin  as  it  matures  and  weathers;  pores  break  up  .into  flattened 
teeth  in  age;  on  hardwoods.  Polystictus  pargamenus. 

4.  Plants  as  above  but  usually  smaller  and  frequently  running  together  where 

attached  to  surface  of  wood;  under  surface  brownish-drab  with  pores 
visible  to  unaided  eye:  in  fresh  specimens  pore  layer  stretches  like  rub- 
ber when  fruiting-body  is  torn  apart;  on  hardwoods.  Gloeoporus  con- 
clioides. 

5.  Plants  corky,   flexible,   medium   sized,   near  to  cinnamon   brown;   upper   sur- 

face usually  not  velvety;  under  surface  either  with  gills  or  radially 
elongate  pores.  Lenzitcs  trabea. 

6.  Plants    tough-fibrous   to   corky,    usually   joining   at   the    sides    to    form    long 

fruit  bodies  which  are  shelving,  thick  where  attached  to  wood  and 
project  out  usually  less  than  half  an  inch;  white  when  fresh,  becoming 
pale  buff  in  drying;  pores  large,  easily  seen  by  unaided  eye;  usually  on 
oaks  or  chestnut.  Trametes  sepium. 

7.  Plants    large,    shelving,    tough,    rigid   when    dry,    3    to    6    inches   across    and 

y2  to  24  inch  thick,  light  brown;  upper  surface  often  rough  to  the 
touch;  pores  radially  elongate  or  sinuous,  easily  visible  to  unaided  eye; 
mainly  on  willow.  Daedalea  confragosa. 

8.  Plants    shelving,   tough,   corky,    becoming   woody;    pinkish    to   rosy   through- 

out.    Fames  roseus. 

C.  Fruiting-bodies    provided    with    distinct    teeth*    which    project   downward. 

1.     Plant    white,    fleshy,    succulent,    more    or    less    globose;     usually    on    oak. 
Hydnum  erinaceum. 

D.  Fruiting-bodies  smooth    (without   gills,   pores   or  teeth)    beneath    when   shelving, 

or  on  outer  exposed  surface  when  spread  out  flat  on  the  wood: 
1.      Plants    shelving,   arranged    one   above   the   other: 

a.  Fruiting-bodies    thin,    flexible;    upper    surface    clay    colored    to    slate 

colored;     lower    surface    light    brown;     on    hardwoods.       Stereum 
fasciatum. 

b.  Fruiting-bodies   as   above   but    usually    much    smaller;    lower    surface 

orange-yellow;     upper     surface     paler;     on     hardwoods.       Stereum 
rameale. 


*  Polystictus   pargamenus   and    Polystictus    abietinus    also   have    flattened    tooth- 
like  plates,  due  to  the  breaking  up  of  the  walls   of  the  pores  in  age. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  11 

2.      Plants  thin,   spread  out  flat  on  surface  of  wood,   not  shelving: 

a.  Fruiting-bodies    \\atery-white    to    creamy    or    smoky    gray,    forming    a 

somewhat  cartilaginous  membrane  which  dries  to  a  brittle  crust 
and  is  easily  separable  from  the  wood;  mycelial  stage  very  abun- 
dant as  a  fluffy-white  growth  of  coarse  matted  threads;  on  conifers 
(pines,  etc.)  only.  Pcniophora  gigantea. 

b.  Fruiting-bodies     bright     yellow,     resembling     paint;     on     hardwoods. 

Hypocrea   citrina. 

E.  Fruiting-bodies  in  the  form  of  smooth,  or  almost  smooth,   more  or  less  globose 

"buttons." 

1.  Buttons    small,    numerous,    black    when    mature,    but    covered    with    a    clay 

colored    "bloom"   when    young;    on   beech.     Hypoxylon   cohaerens. 

2.  Buttons    somewhat    larger,    up    to    ^4    inch    in    diameter,    reddish-brown;    on 

beech.      Hypoxylon    coccineum. 

3.  Buttons    large,    up    to    one    or    two    inches    in    diameter,    black    tinged    with 

olive  green  on  the  surface;  charcoal-like  and  distinctly  layered  within; 
on  hardwoods.  Daldinia  concentrica. 

F.  Fruiting-bodies  black,  crumpled,   jelly-like,   spread  over  surface   of  wood;   when 

dry  shrink  to  a  thin,   shiny,  black,   brittle  membrane;   on  hardwoods.     Exidia 
glandulosa. 

G.  Fruiting-bodies    minute,    usually    requiring   magnifying    glass    to    see;    occur    on 

surface  of  wood  intermixed  with  mycelium. 

1.  Fruiting-bodies     black,     like     stiff     bristles     with     swollen     base;     mycelium 

matted,  dark  brownish  to  black;  fungus  produces  blue  discoloration  in 
sapwood  of  both  hardwoods  and  conifers,  particularly  red  gum  and 
pines.  Blue  Stain  (Ccratostoinella  spp.)  

2.  Fruiting-bodies    minute,    scattered,    depressed    globose    seated    on    a    compact 

olive  brown  to  blackish  felt-like  mycelium  growing  over  surface  of 
wood;  to  casual  observer  looks  like  olive-black  stain  on  the  ends  of  ties; 
produces  a  bluish-black  stain  in  the  wood  which  does  not  extend  far  in. 
Olive  black  mold  (,L,asiosphaeria  pesizula.) 

Brief  Description  of  the  Fungi  Reported  in  the  Present  Paper 

In  identifying  the  fungi  found  on  structural  timbers  it  should  be 
kept  in  mind  that  the  fruiting-bodies  are  very  often  small  and  abnormal 
or  immature,  making  their  determination  correspondingly  difficult. 
Each  fungus,  however,  usually  has  sufficient  well-marked  characters  so 
that  even  though  the  form  and  size  be  changed,  other  satisfactory  clues 
remain  to  guide  us.  The  present  article  cannot  hope  to  cover  the 
situation  in  more  than  a  cursory  fashion,  but  even  the  little  offered  may 
prove  of  some  assistance,  at  least  by  stimulating  an  interest  in  the 
subject.  Undoubtedly  many  more  species  than  those  recorded  for 
the  regions  under  consideration  will  turn  up  as  the  number  of  observers 
increase,  and  these  will  prove  more  or  less  confusing,  as  there  is  always 
a  tendency  in  this  kind  of  work  to  tie  up  the  unknown  with  the  known. 
In  cases  of  doubt  the  services  of  an  expert  should  be  sought  if  the 
specimens,  after  careful  comparison  with  the  illustrations  and  descrip- 
tions herein  given,  fail  to  tally  in  the  essential  characters. 

PHOLIOTA  ADIPOSA 
(Plate  VII,  Figs.  2  and  6) 

This  is  a  moderately  large,  fleshy  fungus  of  the  mushroom  type 
with  an  expanded  cap  and  a  more  or  less  central  stem.  The  cap  is 
usually  convex,  sticky  when  fresh  or  moist,  and  covered  with  scattered 
brownish  scales.  The  gills  or  plates  on  the  underside  of  the  cap  are 
yellow  at  first  but  soon  become  brown,  due  to  the  abundance  of  rusty 
colored  spores  which  are  produced  on  their  surfaces.  The  stem  is 
rather  thick,  yellowish,  and  scaly  over  the  lower  portion.  It  is  usually 


12  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

curved,  as  the  cap  must  always  orient  itself   so  that  it  is  horizontal, 
with  the  gills  pointing  downward. 

The  fungus  grows  in  clusters  and  was  noted  several  times  on 
beech  and  red  oak  ties,  growing  from  the  heartwood,  which  was  ap- 
parently rotted  in  the  standing  tree.  It  is  not  serious  in  storage  yards 
since,  as  a  rule,  such  heart-rotted  ties  are  culled  in  the  woods. 

LENTINUS  LEPIDEUS 
(Plate  VIII,  Fig.  2) 

This  is  one  of  the  large  mushrooms  which  mainly  grows  on  timber 
in  contact  with  the  ground.  It  is  tough,  fleshy-fibrous,  with  a  central 
scaly  stem  and  is  white  throughout,  except  that  the  cap  is  covered  with 
brownish  scales.  It  occurs  abundantly  over  the  United  States,  appear- 
ing especially  prevalent  in  regions  with  sandy  soil,  where  it  frequently 
grows  out  of  ties  or  other  structural  timbers  at  or  near  the  ground 
line.  In  the  dark  it  produces  sterile  "stag-horn"  growths. 

It  is  limited  to  coniferous  wood,  where  it  rots  both  heart  and  sap- 
wood  of  many  species  vigorously. 

PANUS  STIPTICUS 
(Plate  VII,  Fig.  4) 

This  is  one  of  the  smaller  gill  fungi.  It  usually  grows  in  dense 
clusters  and  rarely  projects  out  more  than  half  an  inch  from  the 
surface  of  the  wood.  It  is  of  a  grayish  to  tan  color,  somewhat  scurfy 
on  the  upper  surface,  and  is  thin  and  flexible,  with  a  short  lateral  stem. 
Like  nearly  all  the  leathery  or  corky  species,  it  can  revive  repeatedly 
after  periods  of  drying  and  form  new  crops  of  spores. 

It  is  not  very  prevalent  on  stored  ties,  and  was  only  found  produc- 
ing a  sap-rot  in  red  oak. 

SCHIZOPHYLLUM    COMMUNE 

(Plate  VI,  Figs.  5-10) 

This  is  a  very  characteristic  fungus  with  which  there  is  no  danger 
of  confusing  any  other.  It  may  grow  on  almost  any  kind  of  wood,  and 
is  abundant  on  conifers  as  well  as  hardwoods.  It  grows  in  the  form 
of  small  shelves,  usually  not  projecting  out  more  than  an  inch.  The 
fruit-bodies  are  often  more  or  less  wedge-shaped  or  fan-shaped,  taper- 
ing to  a  narrow  point  of  attachment.  They  are  thin  and  flexible,  like 
soft  leather  when  moist,  white  or  grayish  tinged,  densely  clothed  with 
short  hairs  above  and  provided  with  distinct  radiating  gills  beneath, 
which  may  vary  from  a  buff  to  pale  slate  gray  in  color.  These  gills 
are  very  characteristic,  being  split  longitudinally  along  the  edge,  the 
halves  curling  back  like  a  slit  dandelion  stem. 

The  spores  of  the  fungus  readily  enter  season  checks  and  produce 
a  crop  of  fruit-bodies  in  a  very  short  time.  In  two  samples  of  persim- 
mon ties  collected  the  fungus  was  associated  with  a  marked  bleaching 
of  the  dark  wood  and  in  certain  areas  a  marked  softening  and  disin- 
tegration of  the  substance,  indicating  that  the  fungus  is  apparently 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  13 

wood  destroying  but  quite  slow  in  its  action.  The  above  mentioned 
ties  had  been  in  storage  several  years.  New  pine  ties  bearing  an 
abundance  of  the  fruiting-bodies  showed  no  perceptible  effect  on  the 
fiber. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  writer  the  fungus  need  not  be  discriminated 
against,  as  the  rot  will  not  develop  to  any  serious  extent  within  normal 
periods  of  storage. 

LENZITES  BETULINA 
(Plate  II,  Fig.  3;  Plate  IV,  Figs.  5  and  6) 

This  is  one  of  the  corky,  flexible,  shelving  species  which  project 
out  one  to  three  inches.  The  individual  fruiting-bodies  are  borne  one 
above  the  other,  often  in  large,  conspicuous  clusters.  The  upper  surface 
is  velvety  to  the  touch,  usually  clay  colored  to  light  brown,  and  often 
concentrically  banded  with  yellow  or  orange  shades.  The  young  plants 
and  growing  margins  are  usually  buff  colored.  The  under  surface  con- 
sists of  coarse  gills  radiating  out  to  the  margin.  These  are  whitish 
to  light  buff  in  color. 

This  fungus  occurs  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  is  likely 
to  attack  almost  any  hardwood.  In  the  less  durable  woods,  such  as 
red  oak,  red  gum,  etc.,  it  produces  a  marked  uniform  bleaching  and 
rot  of  the  heart  as  well  as  the  sap.  The  fungus  is  a  rapid  grower 
and  very  destructive. 

LENZITES  SEPIARIA 
(Plate  I,  Fig.  4;  Plate  V,  Figs.  1  and  2) 

Lenzites  sepiaria  is  a  shelving,  tough,  flexible  fungus  varying  from 
russet  to  dark  brown  above  and  paler  beneath.  The  upper  surface  is 
usually  densely  clothed  with  hairs,  but  in  age  these  may  be  more  or 
less  weathered  away.  The  underside  consists  of  plates  or  gills  radiating 
out  from  the  point  of  attachment. 

This  fungus  is  widespread  and  common  on  coniferous  timber  over 
the  entire  United  States.  There  are  several  closely  related  species  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  but  they  are  all  brown  and  attack  wood 
severely.  One  species  (Lenzites  imbed)  rots  hardwoods,  but  the  others 
all  grow  on  conifers. 

LENZITES  TRABEA 
(Plate  VIII,  Fig.  5) 

This  fungus  is  closely  related  to  Lenzites  sepiaria,  but  principally 
rots  hardwood  timber.  It  is  moderately  thin  and  shelving,  and  often 
loosely  clustered.  It  differs  from  Lenzites  sepiaria  in  being  more  of 
a  cinnamon  brown  than  sepia  or  dark  brown,  in  the  upper  surface 
being  usually  devoid  of  a  velvety  covering,  and  in  the  underside  being 
provided  with  gills  which  are  closer  together  and  which  frequently 
join  laterally  (anastomose)  to  form  elongate  pores. 


14  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

Lensites  trabca  is  widely  distributed  over  the  United  States,  and 
is  almost  always  found  on  hardwoods,  of  which  it  attacks  a  con- 
siderable number,  among  which  oaks,  gums,  cottonwoods  and  willows 
deserve  particular  mention. 

POLYSTICTUS  VERSICOLOR 
(Plate  I,  Fig.  2;  Plate  IV,  Figs.  7-9) 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  common  fungus  one  meets  with  on  hard- 
wood timber.  The  fruit-bodies  are  thin,  shelving  and  densely  clustered 
one  above  the  other.  They  are  tough,  leathery  and  flexible  when  moist, 
but  more  or  less  rigid  when  dry.  The  upper  surface  is  beautifully 
banded  concentrically  with  various  shades  of  brown,  blue  or  buff  from 
which  character  the  fungus  takes  it  name,  and  is  densely  covered  with 
short  hairs,  and  hence  velvety  to  the  touch.  The  under  surface  is 
white  with  small,  shallow  pores  scarcely  visible  to  the  unaided  eye. 
This  fungus  attacks  almost  all  species  of  hardwood  timber  and  is  very 
vigorous  in  its  action,  producing  a  white  rot. 

POLYSTICTUS  ABIETINUS 
(Plate  VIII,  Fig.  1) 

This  is  a  thin,  flexible  fungus  usually  growing  in  loose  clusters. 
The  fruit-bodies  on  structural  timber  rarely  extend  out  more  than  an 
inch,  usually  less.  They  are  white  and  hairy  on  the  upper  surface  and 
usually  violet  on  the  lower  when  young,  becoming  brownish  in  age. 
The  pores  in  this  species  break  up  at  an  early  stage  of  growth  into 
flattened,  irregular  teeth,  but  there  almost  always  remain  shallow  pores 
at  the  margin. 

The  fungus  is  widely  distributed  over  the  entire  United  States, 
and  is  limited  to  conifers,  where  it  produces  principally  a  sap-rot. 

POLYSTICTUS  PARGAMENUS 
(Plate  VIII,  Fig.  3) 

This  fungus  is  found  abundantly  on  hardwoods  over  practically 
the  entire  country.  Its  closest  relative  is  Polystictus  abictinus,  which, 
however,  grows  only  on  conifers.  The  fruiting-bodies  are  shelving, 
clustered  and  thin.  They  are  somewhat  larger  and  coarser  than 
Polystictus  abictinus,  but  rarely  project  out  on  structural  timber  more 
than  iy2  to  2  inches.  In  young  specimens  the  upper  surface  is  velvety 
and  whitish  to  creamy  or  buff;  in  older  specimens  it  frequently  becomes 
concentrically  banded  and  gray  behind,  losing  much  of  its  velvety  cover- 
ing. The  under  surface  in  young  specimens  is  violet,  which  changes  to 
brown  in  older  specimens.  The  pores  readily  split  into  irregular  flat 
teeth  as  the  plant  ages. 

In  hardwoods  having  a  well  differentiated  heart  it  produces  mainly 
a  sap-rot,  but  in  other  species  the  heart  may  be  decayed  as  well. 


AMERICAN   WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  15 

GLOEOPORUS  CONCHOIDES 
(Plate  VII,  Fig.  5) 

The  fruiting-bodies  of  this  fungus  are  shelving,  loosely  arranged 
one  above  the  other  and  usually  run  together  where  attached  to  the 
surface  of  the  wood.  On  ties  they  rarely  extend  out  more  than  ^  to 
3/4  inch.  The  upper  surface  is  light  buff.  The  under  surface  is  brownish- 
drab  and  provided  with  minute  pores  which  require  a  hand  lens  to 
see.  The  species  may  easily  be  identified  by  the  fact  that  the  pore 
layer  in  fresh  specimens,  or  in  old  specimens  which  have  been  moistened, 
stretches  like  a  thin  sheet  of  rubber  when  the  fruiting-body  is  toYn 
apart. 

This  fungus  was  noted  several  times,  particularly  on  red  oak,  where 
it  may  rot  both  heart  and  sapwood.  It  has  a  wide  distribution  over 
the  United  States,  principally  on  hardwoods. 

TRAMETES  SEPIUM 
(Plate  VII,  Fig.  1) 

Fresh  plants  of  this  species  are  small,  white,  tough  and  firm,  and 
project  out  from  the  wood  less  than  half  an  inch.  They  are  shelving 
and  often  elongated.  As  they  dry  they  become  pale  buff  and  rather 
hard.  The  under  surface  bears  large  pores  easily  visible  to  the  un- 
aided eye. 

The  fungus  is  widely  distributed  on  hardwoods,  but  mainly  on 
white  and  red  oaks  and  chestnut.  It  produces  a  brownish  rot  so  severe 
that  the  wood  readily  crumbles  between  the  fingers. 

DAEDALEA  CONFRAGOSA 
(Plate  VII,  Fig.  7) 

This  fungus  is  a  rigid  shelving  species  which  may.  be  5  to  6  inches 
across  and  projects  out  2  to  3  inches.  It  is  usually  l/2  to  %  inch  thick 
where  attached  to  the  surface  of  the  wood.  The  upper  surface  is 
brown,  somewhat  irregular,  and  rather  rough  to  the  touch.  The  lower 
surface  is  nearly  the  same  color  and  provided  with  radially  elongate, 
often  sinuous,  pores  easily  visible  to  the  unaided  eye. 

The  fungus  is  widely  distributed  over  the  United  States,  growing 
mainly  on  willow,  and  being  largely  limited  to  this  species  is  rarely 
found  in  tie  yards.  It  occurs  most  commonly  on  dead  trees  or  on 
living  trees  which  have  been  injured.  It  causes  a  uniform  bleaching 
of  the  wood  and  a  severe  rot. 

FOMES  ROSEUS 
(Plate  VIII,  Fig.  4) 

This  fungus  is  one  of  the  larger  fungi  of  the  shelving  type.  The 
annual  form  is  corky  when  fresh,  but  firm  when  dry.  It  is  pinkish  to 
rosy  throughout,  and  for  this  reason  easily  distinguished.  Old  speci- 


16  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

metis  may  become  black  on  the  surface,  but  when  broken  open  these 
usually  show  pinkish.  The  perennial  forms  may  be  hoof-shaped  and 
consist  of  several  annual  layers  of  growth,  but  this  type  of  fruit-bodies 
is  much  less  common  than  the  one  illustrated.  The  pores  are  small 
but  are  visible  to  the  unaided  eye.  This  fungus  is  for  the  most  part 
met  with  in  the  northern  and  western  United  States,  where  it  rots 
coniferous  ties  of  various  species. 

HYDNUM  ERINACEUM 
(Plate  VII,  Fig.  3) 

This  is  a  beautiful,  white,  fleshy  fungus  which  has  distinct  teeth 
more  or  less  cylindrical  in  section  and  tapering  to  an  acute  point. 
These  teeth  are  long  and  conspicuous  and  bear  the  spores  on  their 
surfaces.  The  fungus  is  succulent  and  fleshy  and  more  or  less  globose. 
It  turns  yellowish  and  shrinks  markedly  in  drying.  It  was  found  a 
number  of  times  on  red  oak  and  beech  ties,  always  growing  from  the 
decayed  heart  at  the  ends.  These  ties  were  cut  from  trees  already 
heart  rotted  in  the  forest,  hence  the  rot  is  not  of  particular  importance 
in  the  storage  yards. 

STEREUM  FASCIATUM 
(Plate  III,  Fig.  3;  Plate  IV,  Fig.  4) 

The  fruiting-bodies  of  this  species  are  thin,  shelving,  arranged  one 
above  the  other,  and  may  project  out  up  to  \l/2  inches.  The  upper 
surface  is  clay  colored  and  somewhat  velvety  in  young  specimens, 
becoming  grayish  to  slate  colored  as  the  fungus  matures.  The  under 
surface  is  light  brown  (avellaneous)  and  smooth,  i.  e.,  without  pores, 
gills  or  teeth. 

The  fungus  is  widespread  in  the  United  States,  but  most  abundant 
east  of  the  Rockies.  In  the  Gulf  and  South  Atlantic  States  it  is  largely 
replaced  by  a  similar  appearing  fungus,  Stereum  lobatum.  It  is  partial 
to  white  and  red  oaks,  but  is  known  also  to  attack  many  other  hard- 
woods. In  the  white  oaks  it  mainly  rots  the  sapwood,  but  with  the 
red  oaks  and  other  of  the  less  durable  woods  the  heart  is  also  decayed. 

STEREUM  RAMEALE 

(Plate  I,  Fig.  1;  Plate  V,  Figs.  3  and  4) 

This  is  one  of  the  thin,  tough,  flexible  species  which  produces  a 
large  number  of  small,  shelving,  confluent  fruit-bodies,  smooth  on  the 
under  surface,  and  arranged  one  above  the  other  in  clusters.  These 
fruit-bodies  rarely  project  out  from  the  surface  more  than  half  an 
inch,  usually  less  on  stored  ties.  They  are  a  beautiful  yellowish- 
orange  on  the  under  surface,  especially  when  wet,  and  somewhat  paler 
on  the  upper  surface,  which  is  distinctly  hairy.  The  fungus  attacks 
many  different  hardwoods,  such  as  red  gum,  red  oak,  etc.,  and  is  very 
common  throughout  the  United  States. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  17 

PENIOPHORA  GIGANTEA 
(Plate  I,  Fig.  3;   Plate  IV,  Figs.  1-3) 

This  fungus  is  usually  most  evident  as  a  fluffy  whitish  mycelium 
on  the  surface  of  the  wood.  On  the  ends  of  ties  it  forms  radiating 
streaks  or  ridges  which  consist  of  the  mycelium  intermixed  with 
exuding  resin.  The  fungus  is  very  often  associated  with  blue  stain. 
When  fruiting-bodies  are  formed  they  consist  of  smooth,  flat,  waxy 
to  subcartilaginous  patches  which  are  watery-white  to  creamy  or 
smoky  gray  in  appearance.  The  margin  is  whitish  and  usually  more 
or  less  fluffy.  As  the  plant  dries  it  forms  a  brittle  surface  layer  which 
easily  separates  from  the  wood. 

While  the  fungus  is  distributed  over  a  large  part  of  the  United 
States,  it  occurs  in  greatest  abundance  in  the  southern  half  east  of 
the  Rockies.  In  the  north  it  is  introduced  principally  on  infected  pine. 
Ties  are  usually  abundantly  infected  before  reaching  destination.  For- 
tunately the  fungus  does  not  produce  any  appreciable  rot  in  the  sap- 
wood  which  it  attacks,  although  the  mycelium  penetrates  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  Hence  the  inspector  need  not  discriminate  against  it. 

HYPOCREA  CITRINA 

(Plate  II,  Fig.  4;  Plate  VI.  Figs.  3  and  4) 

This  is  one  of  the  fungi  which  grow  flat  on  the  surface  of  the 
wood.  It  closely  resembles  a  spot  of  yellow  paint  and  forms  a  crust 
about  •&  inch  thick.  The  spores  are  borne  in  cavities  just  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  fruit-body.  It  was  noted  several  times,  particularly  on 
beech.  The  wood  beneath  the  fruit-bodies  is  markedly  bleached,  but 
the  tissues  are  not  seriously  disintegrated.  In  its  action  on  the  wood 
it  behaves  a  good  deal  like  Schizophyllum  commune  and  should  thus 
be  classed  with  the  slow-acting  wood  destroyers. 

HYPOXYLON  COHAERENS 
(Plate  II,  Fig.  1;   Plate  V,  Figs.  5  and  7) 

The  fruiting-bodies  of  this  fungus  consist  of  more  or  less  globose 
buttons,  usually  not  exceeding  T&  inch  in  diameter.  In  the  young  stages 
these  are  no  larger  than  a  pin  head  and  are  often  covered  with  a  clay- 
colored  "bloom."  When  mature  they  are  black. 

This  fungus  has  a  rather  wide  distribution  in  the  United  States,  but 
has  never  been  reported  as  serious  outside  the  central  hardwood  region, 
where  it  is  limited  to  beech.  The  sapwood  is  first  attacked,  but  finally 
the  heartwood  is  invaded.  The  configuration  of  the  rot  is  peculiar,  as 
the  fungus  attacks  the  wood  in  small,  irregular  "islands,"  usually 
radially  elongate,  which  are  bleached  out  and  bounded  by  narrow  brown 
lines  representing  the  sound  wood.  This  gives  an  intricate  tracery  of 
brown  lines  on  a  lighter  background.  In  more  advanced  stages  of  the 
rot  the  brown  lines  may  disappear,  giving  a  more  or  less  uniform 
bleached  appearance  to  the  wood.  The  rot  is  a  serious  one  and  should 
be  culled,  as  the  infected  areas  show  a  marked  softening  and  dis- 
integration of  the  fiber. 


18  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

HYPOXYLON  COCCINEUM 
(Plate  II,  Fig.  2;  Plate  V,  Figs.  6  and  8) 

The  fruiting-bodies  of  this  species  are  of  the  same  type  as  the 
preceding,  but  differ  in  being  considerably  larger,  although  not  usually 
exceeding  l/\.  inch  in  diameter.  They  are  reddish-brown  in  color  but 
may  become  somewhat  blackened  in  age.  The  distribution  is  essen- 
tially the  same  as  for  the  preceding  species,  and  the  rot  is  quite  similar. 
The  fungus  is  also  limited  to  beech. 

DALDINIA  CONCENTRICA 

(Plate  III,  Fig.  2;  Plate  VI,  Figs.  1  and  2) 

This  fungus  appears  as  large  more  or  less  globular  "buttons"  up 
to  1  or  2  inches  in  diameter.  These  are  of  the  color  and  consistency 
of  charcoal  within  and  blackish,  tinged  with  olive  green  on  the  outside 
surface,  which  is  quite  smooth.  The  spores  are  borne  in  a  layer  of 
small  cavities  just  beneath  the  crust  and  ooze  out  through  minute 
openings.  A  scant  mycelium  forms  over  the  surface  of  the  wood, 
which,  together  with  the  dark  brown  spores  which  have  collected  around 
the  fruit-bodies,  blacken  it.  The  fungus  was  found  on  soft  maple  and 
white  elm  ties,  but  is  also  known  to  attack  various  hardwoods  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  The  rot  is  severe  and  ties  bearing  the 
fungus  should  be  culled. 

EXIDIA  GLANDULOSA 
(Plate  III,  Fig.  4;  Plate  V,  Figs.  9-11) 

This  fungus  is  black  and  jelly-like.  It  grows  spread  out  flat  on 
the  surface  of  the  wood.  When  developing  on  the  ends  of  ties  it  often 
follows  the  sapwood  around  in  a  ring,  but  it  may  also  overgrow  the 
heartwood.  When  moist  it  is  slimy  to  the  touch  with  a  much  crumpled 
outer  surface,  but  when  dry  it  shrinks  to  a  very  thin,  shiny  black 
brittle  membrane  which  shows  no  crumpling.  The  spores  are  white  and 
are  borne  on  the  exposed  surface  of  the  fruit-bodies. 

This  was  one  of  the  fungi  commonly  encountered  on  hardwoods, 
mainly  red  gum  and  beech,  in  the  region  investigated.  It  is  widely 
distributed  over  the  United  States,  but  heretofore  has  not  been  re- 
ported as  causing  serious  decay  in  structural  timbers.  It  should  be 
discriminated  against,  at  least  in  the  South,  where  it  can  apparently 
decay  the  less  durable  woods  in  a  comparatively  short  time. 

BLUE  STAIN    (CERATOSTOMELLA  SPP.) 

(Plate  VII,  Figs.  8,  10  and  11) 

This  fungus  frequently  appears  on  the  ends  or  surface  of  freshly 
cut  timbers  of  both  conifers  and  hardwoods.  In  many  cases  the 
mycelium  is  scanty,  but  in  others  it  may  form  a  luxuriant,  matted 
growth,  at  first  whitish  but  soon  becoming  brownish-black.  The  fruit- 
ing-bodies  are  seated  either  in  this  matted  mycelium  or  directly  on  the 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  19 

surface  of  the  wood.  They  consist  of  minute,  flask-shaped  structures, 
often  with  long,  bristle-like  necks  which  are  visible  to  the  unaided  eye 
as  rigid,  black,  brittle  hairs  on  the  surface  of  the  wood. 

The  most  characteristic  feature  of  these  fungi,  however,  is  the 
grayish-blue  discoloration  produced.  The  stain  may  be  quite  uniform 
over  considerable  areas,  or  it  may  be  limited.  It  is  caused  by  the  pene- 
tration of  the  mycelium  into  the  sapwood  mainly  through  the  pith  rays. 
As  the  fungus  lives  mainly  on  the  starches,  sugars,  etc.,  stored  in  the 
pith  rays,  it  does  not  affect  the  strength  of  the  wood  and  hence  is  of 
no  economic  importance  in  connection  with  tie  timbers. 

In  the  region  investigated  both  pine  and  red  gum  are  particularly 
susceptible. 

OLIVE-BLACK  MOLD   (LASIOSPHAERIA  PEZIZULA) 
(Plate  III,  Fig.  1;  Plate  VII,  Fig.  9) 

This  fungus  was  frequently  seen  on  the  ends  of  red  gum  and 
beech  ties.  It  develops  as  a  blackish  mold-like  growth  which  is  dis- 
tinctly tinged  with  olive  green.  The  mycelium  is  compact,  and  upon 
it  are  seated  minute,  depressed,  spherical,  brownish-black  fruiting-bodies 
much  smaller  than  a  pin  head. 

The  mycelium  penetrates  the  wood  to  a  considerable  extent.  It 
produces  a  bluish-black  discoloration  quite  similar  to  the  blue  stain, 
but  does  not  appreciably  attack  the  fiber,  and  hence  need  not  be  dis- 
criminated against. 


20  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  I 

Fig.    1.     Stereum  rameale   growing  on   the   end   of   a   red 
gum    tie. 

Fig.    2.     Polystictus  versicolor  on  the  side  of  a  red  gum 
tie. 

Fig.    3.     Peniophora    gigantea    on    the    side    of    a    yellow 
pine  tie. 

Fig.    4.     Lenzites   sepiaria   on    the   end   of   a   yellow   pine 
tie  lying  on  the  ground. 


'      AMERICAN  WOOD- PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  21 


22  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  II 

Fig.    1.     Hypoxylon  cohaerens  on  the  end  of  a  beech  tie. 
Fig.    2.     Hypoxylon  coccineum  on  the  end  of  a  beech  tie. 

•    e     C        r     ^        r 

P{g;  '£•'     Lenzites  betulina  on  the   end  of  a  red   gum  tie. 


[$'igt/4r.  %Hypocrea  citrina  on  the  end  of  a  beech  tie.    The 
white  area  is  paint. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  23 


24  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  III 

Fig.    1.     An   olive-black  mold,  Lasiosphaeria  pezizula,   on 
\  the  end  of  a  red  gum  tie. 

ig.;  2f  /Paldinia  concentrica  -on  the  end  of  a  white  elm 
r'r  r  r'r 'tie.      The    surface    of   the    wood    is    blackened 
from   spores  and  mycelium. 

Fig.    3.     Stereum  fasciatum  on  sapwood  at  the  end  of  a 
white  oak  tie. 

Fig.    4.     Exidia   glandulosa   on   sapwood   at  the  end   of  a 
beech  tie. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  25 


26  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  IV 

Fig.  1.  Peniophora  gigantea  on  the  end  of  a  compara- 
tively new  sound  yellow  pine  tie.  The  radiat- 
ing white  streaks  are  mycelium  intermixed 
with  exuding  resin. 

Fig.  2.  Longitudinal  section  of  pine  wood  beneath  the 
sporophore  of  Peniophora  gigantea  shown  in 
Plate  I,  Fig.  3.  Note  that  the  wood  is  not 
decayed. 

Fig.    3.     Cross  section  of  the  same  tie. 

^ fgfv  '4.'    Cross   section   of  white   oak   tie,   shown  in   Plate 
\>,    III,  Fig.  3,  sap-rotted  by  Stereum  fasciatum. 

r   r          ',      r  r  r 

Fig.  5.  Cross  section  of  red  oak  tie  rotted  by  Lenzites 
betulina. 

Fig.    6.     Longitudinal  section  of  same  tie.   The  light  areas 

are  thoroughly  rotted. 

• 

Fig.  7.  Longitudinal  section  of  red  gum  tie  shown  in 
Plate  I,  Fig.  2,  rotted  by  Polystictus  versi- 
color. 

Fig.  8.  Cross  section  of  same  tie  showing  complete  de- 
cay throughout. 

Fig.  9.  Cross  section  of  a  white  oak  tie  showing  the 
sap-rot  produced  by  Polystictus  versicolor  and 
Stereum  fasciatum  invading  the  heartwood. 


AMERICAN  WOOD- PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  27 


28  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  V 

Fig.  1.  Longitudinal  section  of  yellow  pine  tie  shown  in 
Plate  I,  Fig.  4,  rotted  by  Lenzites  sepiaria. 
Note  that  the  rot  occurs  in  the  form  of  large 
dark  brown  pockets. 

Fig.  -2.  Cross  section  of  the  same  tie.  The  dark  streaks 
show  wood  in  the  early  stages  of  decay. 

Fig.    3.     Cross  section  of  red  gum  tie  shown  in   Plate  I, 
e  '«.  Fig.  1,  rotted  by  Stereum  rameale. 


Fig.  rr4.r    Longitudinal    section    of   same    tie.      The   lighter 
'     t  /A  r  r'      areas  are  severely  decayed. 


Fig.    5.     Longitudinal  section  of  beech  tie  shown  in  Plate 
II,  Fig.  1,  rotted  by  Hypoxylon  cohaerens. 

Fig.    6.     Longitudinal  section  of  beech  tie  shown  in  Plate 
II,  Fig.  2,  rotted  by  Hypoxylon  coccineum. 

Fig.    7.     Cross  section  of  beech  tie  shown  in  Plate  II,  Fig. 

1,  rotted  by  Hypoxylon  cohaerens. 

Fig.    8.     Cross  section  of  beech  tie  shown  in  Plate  II,  Fig. 

2,  rotted  by  Hypoxylon  coccineum. 

Fig.    9.     Cross   section   of   beech   tie   shown   in   Plate   III, 
Fig.  4,  rotted  by  Exidia  glandulosa. 

Fig.  10.     Longitudinal   section  of  same  tie. 

Fig.  11.     Cross  section   of  beech  tie   sap-rotted   by   Exidia 
glandulosa. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION 


29 


30  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  VI 

Fig.  1.  Cross  section  of  severely  rotted  white  elm  tie 
shown  in  Plate  III,  Fig.  2,  rotted  by  Daldinia 
concentrica. 

Pig.    2.     Longitudinal  section  of  the  same  tie. 

Fig.  3.  Longitudinal  section  of  beech  tie  shown  in  Plate 
II,  Fig.  4,  rotted  by  Hypocrea  citrina. 

Fig.  4.  Cross  section  of  same  tie.  The  whitened  area 
shows  the  extent  of  the  rot. 

Fig.  5.  Schizophyllum  commune  fruiting  on  the  fend  of  a 
persimmon  tie. 

Figr.  r  6.    -Cross  section  of  the  same  tie.  The  whitened  areas 
;/';  "rr*are  considerably  decayed. 


4  /Longitudinal  section  of  the  same  tie. 

Fig.    8.     Schizophyllum   commune  on  the   end   of   a   com- 
paratively new  yellow  pine  tie. 

Fig.    9.     Longitudinal  section  of  the  same  tie.     Note  that 
there  is  no  noticeable  decay. 

Fig.  10.     Cross  section  of  the  same  tie: 


AMERICAN  WOOD- PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  31 


32  .  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 

PLATE   VII 

Fig.  1.  Trametes  sepium  fruiting  on  sapwood  at  the  end 
of  a  white  oak  tie. 

Fig.  2.  Pholiota  adiposa  growing-  from  the  rotten  heart- 
wood  through  a  large  crack  on  the  side  of  a 
beech  tie.  This  tie  was  heart-rotted  when  cut. 

Fig.  3.  Hydnum  erinaceum  fruiting  on  the  heartwood  at 
the  end  of  a  beech  tie.  Tie  heart-rotted  when 
cut. 

Fig.  4.  Panus  stipticus  fruiting  on  the  side  of  a  red  oak 
tie  and  producing  a  sap-rot. 

Fig.  5.  Gloeoporus  conchoides  fruiting,  mainly  on  the 
heart  of  a  red  oak  tie. 

Fig.  6.  Cross  section  of  heart  rot  in  beech  tie  shown  in 
Fig.  2,  produced  by  Pholiota  adiposa. 


jg.;  7\    Btaedalea    confragosa    fruiting   on    the    end    of    a 
/*•*%•  willow  tie. 


Fig.  8.  Longitudinal  section  of  blue-stained  red  gum  tie 
shown  in  Fig.  10. 

Fig.  9.  Longitudinal  section  of  red  gum  tie  shown  in 
Plate  III,  Fig.  1.  Infected  at  the  end  with  the 
olive-black  mold,  Lasiosphaeria  pezizula  (B.  & 
C.)  Sacc. 

Fig.  10.  The  blue-stain  fungus  (Ceratostomella  sp.)  on  the 
end  of  a  red  gum  tie.  The  white  areas  are  in 
part  the  mycelium  of  a  mold  -intermixed  with 
the  blue-stain. 

Fig.  11.  Cross  section  of  the  same  tie,  about  an  inch  and  a 
half  from  the  end. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  33 


34  THE  DECAY  OF  TIES  IN  STORAGE 


PLATE  VIII 

F)ig. ;  1.     Polystictus  abietinus  on  the  side  of  a  pine  tie  in 
track. 


Firg.rr  -2;     Lentinus   lepideus    on  the  side  of  a  rotten  hem- 
lock tie  removed  from  track. 

Fig.    3.     Polystictus  pargamenus  on  a  paper  birch  sapling 
in  the  woods. 

Fig.    4.     Femes  roseus   on   the   end   of   a   hemlock    tie    in 
"  track. 

Fig.    5.     Lenzites  trabea  on  the  end  of  a  hardwood  tie  in 
track. 


AMERICAN  WOOD-PRESERVERS'  ASSOCIATION  35 


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